Weekend early voting restored in Ohio

A federal judge today ruled that Ohioans should be allowed to vote in-person on the final three days prior to Election Day.

Within hours of the decision, Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine announced that he will appeal to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

U.S. District Court Judge Peter C. Economus, granted a preliminary injunction and set the new deadline for in-person voting on Monday, Nov. 5.

“On balance, the right of Ohio voters to vote in person during the last three days prior to Election Day — a right previously conferred to all voters by the state — outweighs the state’s interest in setting the 6 p.m. Friday deadline,” Economus wrote. “The burden on Ohio voters’ right to participate in the national and statewide election is great, as evidenced by the statistical analysis offered by Plaintiffs and not disputed by Defendants.”

Republican lawmakers last year voted to end in-person early voting on the three days prior to Election Day. County elections officials have argued that they need those days to get their poll books updated.